Ask the allergist is a regular feature in our newsletters where Canadian allergists answer your questions!
Please note: The allergists featured in this series answer questions on general topics, please talk to your doctor if you have questions about your own health or the health of your child.
This month, Dr. Julia Upton answers a question about tree nut allergy and handling a nut shell.
If someone has a tree nut allergy and handles a nut in a shell, can they have a reaction?
As one example, walnut shells are very different than the nut. The shells are made of components such as lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose, whereas the edible walnut kernel contains proteins which can trigger an allergic reaction. Handling a nutshell alone would not be expected to cause a reaction in someone with a nut allergy.
In general, handling any food is very low risk in terms of causing an allergic reaction. Washing hands after handling foods can prevent transfer of allergens to the mouth or mucous membranes (such as eyes).
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Dr. Julia Upton is on staff at the Hospital for Sick Children in the Immunology and Allergy Department; and an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. She is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and is a member of our Healthcare Advisory Board.
Please note: Dr. Upton is answering as an individual allergist and her answers do not constitute an official position of her affiliated organizations. Her responses are for informational purposes only and do not constitute specific medical advice, recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Please talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have regarding your own health or the health of your child.
Do you have a food allergy-related question you’d like to ask an allergist? If so, send it along to us at info@foodallergycanada.ca.
Tags: ask the allergist, tree nut